Before Becoming Mayor, De Blasio Needs to Turn Over $9

New York City mayor-elect Bill de Blasio poses with his son Dante, daughter Chiara, and wife Chirlane McCray outside of their Park Slope Nov. 5.

New York City Clerk Michael McSweeney is making an important house call Tuesday night – he is traveling to Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s Brooklyn home in pursuit of $9.

To become the city’s 109th mayor at the stroke of midnight, Mr. de Blasio is legally required to sign the formal oath of office form and pay the accompanying $9 registration fee. The mayor will also be asked to sign the official register of the city clerk; there’s also a second commemorative book that is traditionally signed and kept at City Hall.

In 2001, when Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the oath of office form, the fee was 15 cents (the price for more than 100 years). The fee has since been raised to $9, and that’s what Mr. Bloomberg paid in 2005 and, again, in 2009 as he prepared to begin his third and final term. Four years ago, Mr. McSweeney met Mr. Bloomberg at City Hall for the honors on New Year’s Eve.

From a legal standpoint, the signing of the form, the payment of the $9 fee and the signature in the official register are the only requirements for Mr. de Blasio to assume the powers of the mayor at 12 a.m. Wednesday.

For ceremonial purposes, Mr. de Blasio plans to recite the oath of office at two different points on Wednesday. The first is scheduled to take place at Mr. de Blasio’s home in Park Slope at 12:01 a.m., with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman officiating. That event is considered private for family and other special invitees, but will be streamed live on the web at nyc.gov.

The second ceremonial swearing-in is slated to take place during the noon hour Wednesday at the inaugural ceremony in front of City Hall. Former President Bill Clinton has been tapped to swear in Mr. de Blasio at the ceremony. Adding to the star power, Mr. Clinton’s wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. Senator from New York and a potential 2016 presidential candidate, is planning to attend the event.

New York City’s other two citywide elected officials – incoming Public Advocate Letitia James and incoming Comptroller Scott Stringer – have already signed their oath forms and paid their fees. All 51 members of the City Council, and the five borough presidents, are expected to complete the same task by day’s end.

On Dec. 31, 2001, Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire, drew laughter when he paid his then-15-cent fee all in pennies. “I’m sort of mayor,” he joked at the time, though he didn’t take office until the ball descended later that night in Times Square. In 2005, after the fee was raised, Mr. Bloomberg handed the city clerk a $5 bill and four singles in City Hall’s Blue Room.

“Four years ago, Mr. Mayor, you came to my office, you gave me 15 cents,” Victor Robles, who was then the city clerk, told Mr. Bloomberg. “We raised the fee, Mr. Mayor. Today, I don’t want 15 pennies, Mr. Mayor. I want $9.”

The billionaire mayor quipped, “Do you know what percentage increase that is, Victor?” before coughing up the dough.